What's On Today

By KATHRYN SHATTUCK

Published: November 29, 2010

9 P.M. (National Geographic) RESTREPO: AFGHAN OUTPOST In this 90-minute documentary, filmed from May 2007 to July 2008, Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington focus their cameras on the 15 men of a remote outpost in the Korangal Valley of Afghanistan, named after Pfc. Juan S. Restrepo, a medic who was killed early in the deployment. The film, which records firefights, reconnaissance missions, rounds of horseplay and tedium, ''is an impressive, even heroic feat of journalism,'' A. O. Scott wrote in The New York Times when the film had its theatrical release in June. ''There is nothing especially fancy or innovative here, just a blunt, sympathetic, thorough accounting of the daily struggle to stay alive and accomplish something constructive.'' What distinguishes the film, Mr. Scott said, ''is not only its uniquely intensive focus on a small group of men in a particular time and place, but also its relentless attention to the lethal difficulty of their work.''

8 P.M. (ABC) SKATING WITH THE STARS In Week 2 of this competition series the six celebrities -- the actors Rebecca Budig (who leads with 45 points out of a possible 60), Brandon Mychal Smith and Sean Young; the reality-show fixture Bethenny Frankel; the Olympic skier Jonny Moseley; and Vince Neil, the M?y Cr?ront man (in last place with 28 points, but first in number of falls) -- return to the ice with the help of professional skaters and face their first elimination. The judges are Dick Button, the two-time Olympic gold medalist known as the voice of figure skating; the Olympian Johnny Weir; and Laurieann Gibson, a choreographer for Lady Gaga.

9 P.M. (NBC) THE EVENT President Martinez (Blair Underwood, right) tries to confront the traitor in his administration but is threatened with the exposure of the cover-up of Avias Air 514. Sophia (Laura Innes) sends Simon (Ian Anthony Dale) on a mission to determine the loyalty of Isabel (Necar Zadegan) and Thomas (Clifton Collins Jr.). In ''Chase,'' at 10, United States Marshals Frost (Kelli Giddish) and Ogbaa (Rose Rollins) pursue small-town fugitives (Yara Martinez and Cherilyn Wilson) who use their feminine wiles to coerce bystanders into participating in bank heists.

9 P.M. (Lifetime) UNANSWERED PRAYERS (2010) In this television movie based on the hit song by Garth Brooks, a happily married father (Eric Close) confronts his past and what might have been when the girl of his high school fantasies (M?hen Amick) returns home and threatens to disrupt his life. Samantha Mathis and Patty Duke co-star.

9 P.M. (Fox) LIE TO ME A dying man (John Amos) hires Cal (Tim Roth) to find the person who murdered his daughter, who was set to inherit his chain of popular restaurants.

9 P.M. (CW) GOSSIP GIRL Nate (Chace Crawford) plots to get his parents to make up and move on. Meanwhile a hospitalization throws the rest of the gang into a tizzy.

9:30 P.M. (ABC) CMA COUNTRY CHRISTMAS Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland hosts this collection of music and memories from country performers and their families. Highlights include footage of a 12-year-old Brad Paisley strumming a guitar and singing the first song he composed, ''Born on Christmas Day''; Kellie Pickler dolled up in a red satin gown performing ''Santa Baby''; Little Big Town in ''Go Tell It on the Mountain''; Sheryl Crow and Mr. Paisley in ''Run, Run, Rudolph''; a salute to the military featuring Rascal Flatts in a rendition of ''I'll Be Home for Christmas''; Martina McBride in ''O Holy Night''; Reba McEntire, surrounded by eight portly men in red, singing ''Santa Claus Is Coming to Town''; Darius Rucker in ''Candy Cane Christmas''; LeAnn Rimes taking on the Brenda Lee classic ''Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree,'' accompanied by an entourage of dancing sailors, above; and a full-cast finale of ''Jingle Bell Rock.'' KATHRYN SHATTUCK